If you prioritize high performance, particularly for gaming or demanding tasks, and are willing to pay more, the MSI GF65 Thin with its powerful graphics card and processor is a better choice. However, it is notably heavier and may offer shorter battery life. On the other hand, the HP 250 G10 is more budget-friendly, lightweight, and likely has a longer battery life, making it a solid choice for general use and tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption. It's less suitable for intensive tasks due to its basic processor and graphics capabilities. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the HP 250 G10
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
6.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 250 G10 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.8/10
6.7/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for engineering and design, while the HP 250 G10 is poor.
The HP 250 G10 is not ideal for engineering and design because it has an entry-level CPU and integrated graphics, along with a lower resolution TN screen, which may hinder performance and visual clarity in demanding applications. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin offers a more powerful CPU and dedicated GPU, and a higher resolution IPS screen, which provides the necessary computational power and visual fidelity for more intensive engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP 250 G10 are both only fair for content creation, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Screen Quality
5.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen than the HP 250 G10 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the HP 250 G10's display is likely less vibrant and dimmer compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which offers a somewhat better visual experience due to its higher resolution and better panel type that improves clarity and color reproduction. In engineering and design, the MSI GF65's display is mediocre; while its higher resolution helps, it lacks wide color gamut coverage essential for precision in color work that professionals seek. For gaming and 3D use, although the MSI GF65 Thin's refresh rate is acceptable, it may not be as high as dedicated gaming models, and the moderate resolution and panel quality provide an average experience, not the smoothness or visual fidelity enthusiasts often desire.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The HP 250 G10 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.7/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP 250 G10 both have only fair build quality, though the MSI GF65 Thin has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$349
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP 250 G10 has a price of $349 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP 250 G10 are both only fair for general use.
The HP 250 G10 offers sufficient CPU and RAM for daily tasks with a modest screen and portability, but its battery life and TN panel screen quality fall short for extended use away from power outlets. The MSI GF65 Thin delivers stronger performance with better graphics and a higher quality IPS display but is less portable and struggles with battery life, making it less ideal for those needing mobility and all-day battery.
Software Development
6.4/10
6.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP 250 G10 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The HP 250 G10 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP 250 G10 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"The HP 250 G10 is a decent budget device that surprises us with its high CPU frequencies under load. Still, our configuration has a Core i5-1335U which doesn’t require significant cooling, if choose a 28W P-series processor, maybe the situation with the clocks could be different. If you want to play some casual game after work, a memory in dual-channel is a must because it increases greatly the iGPU performance."
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the HP 250 G10 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.